Tony Kofi

Ghana. Alto, baritone and soprano sax and flute

Winner of the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards for Best instrumentalist, the playing career of saxophonist Tony Kofi began when he chanced upon a series of jazz workshops, run in Leicester by Nick Hislam. He won a scholarship to study for a year at the legendary Berklee College of Music in Boston, taking the opportunity to study with musical luminaries such as Andy Magee, Ernie Watts and Billy Pierce, and was a vital part of Gary Crosby's Nu Troop. He has also been fortunate enough to perform with such acclaimed artists as David Murray Big Band, Courtney Pine, US3 (Blue Note) the latest member of The World saxophone quartet, Claude Deppa's AJ.E and Horns UnLtd and Roy Ayres. Tony has also studied with Donal Byrd, Eddie Henderson and Ralph Morre. His quartet's album of Thelonious Monk's compositions won the 2005 Jazz Parliamentary award and the 2005 BBC Jazz award for best ensemble and best album. Tony's latest album, for Specific Jazz, includes all his own original compositions with Jonathan Gee, Ben Hazleton and Winston Clifford on Drums. Tony joined Grand Union in 1998 has been a prominent player ever since.